The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-25

tuiNNh W hiNNb " buliN P'H'S VhANNi WIZ
entered.
"Ah, ha," exclaimed the official, $50 |
have you; come, now, where's that bread
you prigged from the bakers? | saw YOU
And going forward he grasped the trcm-
bling man by the arm.
From the bed the poor woman looked
with startled eyes upon the struggle. One
thin hand claspcd the miserable loai,
while she held the other appealingly TO
her unhappy husband.
The fury OF Il hunted fugitive, desperate
with wrong and hunger, was in the cap
tive mans eyes. lie struck at the officer
again and again; hut the big policeman
was too strong for him, and finally held
both arms in a powerful grasp.
"Ncd!' the poor woman cried, MS
she half raised herself from the bed.
Med there was an uminous rattle in her
throat, her eyes grew fixed. "Ne ned, "
she gaspcd once more; then fell back
rigid.
See cried the struggling man, turi-
ously, 'Sec, she is dead and breaking
away from the grasp OF the officer, he
started forward toward the bed; but alas!
before he reached it fell PROSTATE. The
officer bent forward and looked into his
face. ''Thunderation.' he exclaimed, che
has tainted. This is u bad nights work.
Then going To the bed, he ga2cd upon the
woman's face, and started back with a cry
OF alarm-shc was dead.
OH" sobbcd Estellc, take me away,
Kris kinglc, please do"
Wait" he whispered, pointing upward,
look"
As before, n sudden glory filled the
room; there was the same bcwildcring ave
nue. OF light, and on both sides OF it end
less rows Of celestial beings fitted TO and
no, and between them, moving toward a
holy presence in the dim distance was a
happy soul Just liberated from its earthly
imprisonment.
"O!' exclaimed Estcllc, as she glzcd
from the set face OF the dead woman TO
that Of the happy spirit, tits the woman's
soul!'
"Ncs,n said Kris Kinglc, solcmnly, cher
troubles arr over: she will hunger no
more; but cumc!" he added quickly, and
stepping softly 10y the knceling official and
the unconscious man, they reached the
door, and going through the hall to the
room they had first entered, paused 10y the
chimney, and Kris kinglc took Estcllc in
his arms. ''Shut your eyes, dear, he
said, and whizl- when she opened them
again they were snugly seated in the sleigh.
Kris kinglc cracked his whip, and with Il
merry "llio!' that almost oblitcntcd the
memory Of the sld occurrences below, of
they went through the moonlight, over
roofs, and Tar away.
kris kinglc," said Estellc, please take
me home; I don't want 10 see any more
sorrow tonight"
IAN right, my dear" answered Kris
Kinglc, but before wc return | want YOU
To come with me aud see a little boy whose
Christmas will soon come to him.
"Whcrr is hep asked Estcllc.
In answer Kris kinglc directed his lly-
ing reindeer toward q large building. The
windows were all alight, and there were
shadows OF moving figures fitting across
the blinds
"Whoal'' The sleigh camc to a stand
still, and Kris kinglc, taking the little
girl in his arIns, leaped Ia the ROOF, clam
bcrod 10 a tall chimney, and in q moment
the big fur cap and the little golden head
disappeared in lis depths.
When the little girl again opened hcI
eyes they stood in q long, low room; on
/, both sides Of IL little cots wCrc arranged,
and ON each lay u childish form.
Here and there a pale face looked owarl
/, the ceiling; some wcrc sleeping, SOME viii
flushed checks tossing their little ARM
! about, and on one or two of the beds lay
) little ones with arms and heads handagrd
kris Kinglc," asked Estcllc, what
, place h this?'
/ at is the childrcn's hospital" be- an.
swcrcd.
{ But won't they see us2'
! "No," answered Kris kingle; II hay,
provided against that"
Ladies we're moving from cot to cot,
.hcir faces alight with the beauty of u ten
% der sympathy. 10 somc of the little sui
+, icrcrs they gave flowers; Ia Others, toys
dollica. trumpcls, books. aud over each
. bed asprig of holly was tied.
"Ah!' There camc a startled cxclama.
] ton from one OF the nurses bending over d
little cot and all the ladies aud several
! kindly. faced gentlemen hurried In that Ill,
r%ection. Come, said Kris kinglc; then
r taking Estcllc in his arms lac carried her "a
: the bedside.
| 1hcrr las a little ncwsboy. Es,clle had
g often seen the poor little fellow on
, the streets, hut his CHEEKY voice wn'
! hushcd, anil his eyes we're dim; over hi.
. pinchcd face the shadow oi death wa,
, creeping, aud one manned hand was RAISED
e IN the air, held softly by the nursc.
r GLOW do you feel, my dcar?' asked on,
. VI the ladies, with fearful eyes. 90
i gaspcd the little boy, lam ~ -tircd- buI
. the par-on said that cf=cf Iud hold my
. hand up tha that G-GOd would sro n
an when h. Gun here ionight-hc u,
take me home
and does my little friend feel happy?'
3 asked q kindly faced gentleman, kncclin.
beside him.
, 80, Yves" whispered the little fellow
! "Ool has Ia the little head icll bacl
upon the pillow the plaintiyc voice VA
g hushcd forever. and ~ the nuns soitll
y drew the cyclids over the siRhtlcss eye
F." the gentleman k]nccling by the cot hnishc,
g the sentence that the poor little suiicrc
! bad begun ~ hc said God has come"
And Kris Hinglr whispered 10 EstCllc
who hid her sorowiul face upon hI
y shoulders AMI subbrl. "Src, dear, John
/, ny's Christmas has come" And lol %
81 size raised her eyes the room had disap
I reared the beautiful ladies, the kindl,
gentlemen. \ loodo NJ light spread every
u where. once mor she saw the angels
p and once more mp the avenue 81 ligh
p went q happy sui.
y "O." crici Fslcllc, 1T II Johnny ~
y ~ glad NJ glad!
~ Yes, II was johnny n beautiful nng,
. led him los the hand through that glonOu
multitude. His face was allgit and happy
Z aud 500, his hand was no longer MANNED
- hi little voice joins In the sweet song iha
nlls tie heavens; there was q twinkle q
a. star, the CLEAN III moonlight, n %cClrsti.
f" glamor aud glory; then II III faded ava
" gnd the little gill, hiding her lace on h.
y kindly guardians shoulder. sobbcd an
/, sad 20, ! an ~ glad, ~ glad!'